Stop youths from using e-cigarettes

Stop youths from using e-cigarettes

I currently work for the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County partnering with the Glens Falls Hospital Living Tobacco Free Initiative. I’m writing to express my concern about the current increase in youth e-cigarette use and to raise awareness on the upcoming Tobacco Holiday Great American Smokeout on Nov. 16.

E-cigarette use in the United States has been steadily rising, with an increase of almost 10 percent from 2011 to 2016.

In fact, nearly 2 million middle- and high-school-aged students used e-cigarettes in 2016. They were more commonly used in youth than adults.

Some common terms for e-cigarettes or e-cigarette usage are: vape, vaping, juice (referring to vape juice), PV (personalized vaporizer) and cig-alike (e-cigarette that looks like a traditional cigarette). Almost all e-cigarette products contain nicotine, along with other dangerous chemicals such as aerosol and metals such as nickel, tin and lead.

E-cigarettes haven’t been proven by the U.S. Food Drug Administration to be a safe alternative to quitting smoking, and studies are showing that evidence is insufficient to show e-cigarettes are a successful cessation tool.

The Great American Smokeout is celebrated nationally. The Smokeout challenges people to stop using tobacco and gives tools to help smokers quit.